Japan's imports rose 9.7% yoy to JPY 10,205.4 billion in April 2026, easing from a 10.9% gain in March and marking the softest pace in three months. Still, it was the third straight month of import growth, surpassing market expectations of 8.3%, as domestic demand stayed resilient, partly lifted by the government’s large stimulus measures introduced in late 2025. Purchases grew from China (14.9%), the U.S. (23.3%), Taiwan (47.0%), South Korea (60.2%), ASEAN (19.5%), the EU (3.8%), and Russia (20.3%). Conversely, imports fell from Hong Kong (-6.7%) and the Middle East (-56.8%). Imports rose for electrical machinery (30.3%), led by semiconductors; others (8.1%); machinery (22.8%); manufactured goods (17.3%); chemicals (17.4%); raw materials (25.3%); and transport equipment (5.6%). However, purchases of mineral fuels fell 19.3%, on disruptions from the Middle East war. Looking ahead, supply chain disruptions could weigh on imports as firms face tighter access to energy and raw materials. source: Ministry of Finance, Japan

Imports YoY in Japan decreased to 9.70 percent in April from 10.90 percent in March of 2026. Imports YoY in Japan averaged 8.15 percent from 1964 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 106.50 percent in February of 1974 and a record low of -42.70 percent in February of 2009. This page includes a chart with historical data for Japan Imports YoY. Japan Imports YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-21 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Mar 10.9% 10.3% 7.1%
2026-05-20 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Apr 9.7% 10.9% 8.3%
2026-06-16 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
May 9.7%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 301.91 643.00 JPY Billion Apr 2026
Capital Flows 42383.00 42127.00 JPY Hundred Million Mar 2026
Current Account 4681.50 3933.00 JPY Billion Mar 2026
Exports 10507.35 11003.32 JPY Billion Apr 2026
Exports YoY 14.80 11.50 percent Apr 2026
External Debt 725809.01 697418.91 JPY Billion Dec 2025
Net Foreign Direct Investment 12094.00 14572.00 JPY Hundred Million Mar 2026
Imports 10205.44 10336.34 JPY Billion Apr 2026
Imports YoY 9.70 10.90 percent Apr 2026


Japan Imports YoY
Japan's main imports are mineral fuels (22 percent of total imports), with petroleum accounting for 10 percent and LNG for 6 percent; electrical machinery (15 percent) on the back of telephony, telegraphy and semiconductors; chemicals (10 percent) due to medical products and organic chemicals; machinery (10 percent) in particular computers and units; foodstuff (9 percent) such as fish and fish preparations and meat and meat preparations; manufactured goods (9 percent) on nonferrous metals; and raw materials (6 percent) mainly ore of nonferrous and iron ore and concentrates. Japan's main import partners were China (23 percent), the EU (12 percent) in particular Germany (3 percent), the US (11 percent), Australia (6 percent), South Korea (4 percent), Saudi Arabia (4 percent), Taiwan (4 percent), the UAE (4 percent) and Thailand (4 percent).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
9.70 10.90 106.50 -42.70 1964 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Imports Rise the Least in 3 Months
Japan's imports rose 9.7% yoy to JPY 10,205.4 billion in April 2026, easing from a 10.9% gain in March and marking the softest pace in three months. Still, it was the third straight month of import growth, surpassing market expectations of 8.3%, as domestic demand stayed resilient, partly lifted by the government’s large stimulus measures introduced in late 2025. Purchases grew from China (14.9%), the U.S. (23.3%), Taiwan (47.0%), South Korea (60.2%), ASEAN (19.5%), the EU (3.8%), and Russia (20.3%). Conversely, imports fell from Hong Kong (-6.7%) and the Middle East (-56.8%). Imports rose for electrical machinery (30.3%), led by semiconductors; others (8.1%); machinery (22.8%); manufactured goods (17.3%); chemicals (17.4%); raw materials (25.3%); and transport equipment (5.6%). However, purchases of mineral fuels fell 19.3%, on disruptions from the Middle East war. Looking ahead, supply chain disruptions could weigh on imports as firms face tighter access to energy and raw materials.
2026-05-21
Japan Import Growth at 14-Month Peak
Japan’s imports rose 10.9% yoy to JPY 10,336.3 billion in March 2026, surpassing market estimates of 7.1% and accelerating from February’s 10.3% gain. This was the second straight month of increases in purchases and the fastest pace since January 2025, boosted by robust domestic demand following Tokyo’s sizeable stimulus rollout in late 2025. Imports grew for most components, including electrical machinery (25.9%), led by semiconductors; others (8.2%); machinery (14.5%); manufactured goods (19.0%); chemicals (10.3%); and raw materials (15.6%). On the other hand, purchases of mineral fuels fell 3.4%, reflecting disruptions from the Middle East conflict. Imports of transport equipment declined 2.3%, largely dragged by motor vehicles. Purchases expanded from China (8.8%), the U.S. (17.7%), Hong Kong (12.4%), Taiwan (31.4%), South Korea (29.9%), ASEAN countries (10.6%), the EU (16.7%), and South Africa (64.4%). Conversely, imports fell from Russia (-16.0%) and the Middle East (-10.7%).
2026-04-22
Japan Imports Grow the Most in 19 Months
Japan’s imports rose 10.2% yoy to JPY 9,514.3 billion in February 2026, rebounding from a 2.6% drop in the previous month and marking the fastest growth since July 2024, supported by firm domestic demand following Tokyo’s stimulus package introduced in last November, the first under the Takaichi administration. However, the latest increase fell short of market forecasts of 11.5%. Imports expanded for most components, including electrical machinery (23.9%), others (25.6%), machinery (2.0%), manufactured goods (23.4%), chemicals (2.0%), raw materials (20.6%), and transport equipment. On the other hand, purchases of mineral fuels shrank 9.5%. Purchases increased from China (35.4%), the U.S. (8.4%), Hong Kong (3.2%), Taiwan (33.4%), ASEAN countries (5.1%), Russia (15.8%), and the EU (3.1%). Conversely, imports fell from South Korea (-2.9%), India (-17.4%), Australia (-4.2%), and the Middle East (-13.0%).
2026-03-18


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